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Construction and accuracy assessment of an efferocytosis-related prognostic model for ovarian cancer: A diagnostic accuracy study.

The study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of efferocytosis-related genes in ovarian cancer (OC) with regard to cancer development, progression, invasion, and metastasis. OC cohorts were assembled from bioinformatics repositories. Utilizing consensus clustering analysis, distinct clusters were delineated based on the intersection of OC-related genes and efferocytosis-related genes. A prognostic signature specific to efferocytosis in OC was developed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, validated against the gene expression omnibus database, and subjected to independent prognostic analysis. Subsequently, a nomogram model was formulated. Moreover, investigations encompassed the immune microenvironment, immunotherapy, mutation profiling, drug sensitivity assessments, drug prediction models, and molecular docking analyses. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays were employed to ascertain the mRNA expression levels of key genes. Five key genes, FCGBP, BTN3A3, WDR91, SLC25A45, and BTNL3, were identified as significantly associated with OC. Both datasets and qRT-PCR demonstrated elevated expression levels of FCGBP and WDR91 in OC. Notably, AFLATOXIN B1 exhibited strong binding affinity to SLC25A45, ciclopirox to BTN3A3, and irinotecan to WDR91. The risk score, age, and stage were identified as independent prognostic factors, with the nomogram displaying efficacy in predicting OC patient survival. Variations in the immune cell infiltration profiles, including naive B cells, and expression levels of 6 immune checkpoint genes, such as CTLA4, were notable. High tumor mutation burden scores were associated with improved survival outcomes. Additionally, significant differences in the IC50 values of 123 anticancer drugs were observed between the 2 risk groups. This findings of this study highlight the efficacy of the efferocytosis-associated risk model in predicting the survival outcomes of OC patients, thus providing a novel reference for prognostic prediction in OC patients.

Humans

A stratified urine-based molecular diagnostic and prognostic model for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer management.

BACKGROUND: Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is characterized by a high recurrence rate requiring lifelong cystoscopic surveillance. Existing urine-based molecular assays mainly rely on mutations or methylation, which fail to capture large-scale genomic instability. Copy number variation (CNV) profiling offers complementary information on tumor evolution and aggressiveness, but its application in urinary diagnosis remains limited. We aimed to integrate CNV and DNA methylation signals from urinary DNA to establish a noninvasive and biologically informed stratified diagnostic model for NMIBC recurrence surveillance and risk stratification. METHODS: Urine samples were prospectively collected from 91 patients (75 evaluable) between June 2021 and August 2023. Shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS) was used to detect CNVs at chromosomal arm and focal gene levels, while ONECUT2 promoter methylation was quantified by qPCR. Diagnostic and prognostic performance was evaluated by ROC analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival, and stratified recurrence assessment. RESULTS: We evaluated a stratified diagnostic model combining CNV and ONECUT2 methylation testing in a cohort of 79 patients. CNV analysis alone showed high specificity (0.923) for NMIBC diagnosis. A combined model, using CNV as an initial screen followed by ONECUT2 methylation testing in CNV-positive cases, achieved a sensitivity of 0.783, specificity of 0.981, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.911. This approach reduced the number of required ONECUT2 tests by 35% and identified a high proportion of true-negative patients (98.1%), which may help reduce unnecessary cystoscopy procedures. The model also demonstrated significant prognostic value, with the molecularly defined high-risk group showing significantly shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) than the low-risk group (median RFS: 4.33 months vs. not reached; p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Additional, in patients with initially negative cystoscopy after urine sample collection, the model demonstrated a predictive accuracy of 0.922 for recurrence, with molecular positivity observed a median of 9.6 months prior to clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating CNV and DNA methylation profiling from urinary DNA provides a powerful and noninvasive molecular framework for NMIBC surveillance. By combining early epigenetic changes with genomic instability signals, this approach enhances recurrence risk assessment and enables earlier detection compared with conventional cystoscopy. It offers a practical route toward personalized and adaptive post-treatment monitoring of NMIBC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04994197.

Humans

Establishment of a prognostic model based on ER stress-related cell death genes and proposing a novel combination therapy in acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, presenting significant challenges in accurately predicting patient prognosis. Dysregulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and resistance to programmed cell death (PCD) are hallmarks of AML cells. However, the prognostic significance of the interplay between ER stress and cell death pathways in AML remains largely unexplored. METHODS: We analyzed RNA sequencing and clinical data from 887 AML patients across 4 cohorts to develop an ER stress-related cell death index (ERCDI) using 10 machine-learning algorithms with 117 unique combinations. Survival and time-dependent Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analyses were performed to assess the model's efficacy. Clinical characteristics, the tumor immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity differences between the high- and low-risk groups were also analyzed. The CMap database was used to identify potential therapeutic drugs. In vitro and in vivo experiments, including CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell assays, and xenograft mouse models, were conducted to evaluate the effects of the target genes and candidate drugs. RESULTS: The ERCDI demonstrated strong prognostic and predictive performance for prognosis in AML patients. Furthermore, the ERCDI effectively predicted immunotherapy and chemotherapy outcomes and was associated with the immune features of the different risk groups. DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 protein (DDIT4), a key gene associated with ERCDI, is related to poor prognosis in AML patients with high expression. Additionally, the knockdown of DDIT4 significantly inhibited AML cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis, and promoted cell cycle arrest. Chaetocin was subsequently identified as a candidate compound for AML treatment. Subsequent experiments suggested that combining chaetocin and venetoclax is a potentially promising therapeutic strategy for AML. CONCLUSION: The ERCDI provides personalized risk assessment and treatment recommendations for individual AML patients. The combined use of chaetocin and venetoclax can potentially be repurposed for AML therapy.

Humans

AI-driven diagnostic and prognostic models for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: insights from clinical, imaging, and multi-omics studies-a scoping review.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is the most common chronic liver disease around the world, affecting 33.6% of the adult population (95% CI: 28.1%-39.5%; I 2&#x2009;=&#x2009;99.9%), or roughly one in three. The extent of the liver damage is variable, from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly NASH), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Early diagnosis is essential to prevent serious liver damage. Traditional diagnostic techniques such as liver biopsy, imaging, and biomarker testing are all invasive, costly, reduced sensitive to early-stage disease, and they also have variability among observers. Modern diagnostic and prognostic approaches based on the principles of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and specifically on machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) have enabled multimodal approaches integrating clinical, imaging and molecular data. This scoping review conducted per PRISMA-ScR guidelines, synthesizes findings from 73 studies (search window 2020-2026) across three dimensions: clinical data driven models, imaging-based classifiers (ultrasound, CT and MRI), and multi-omics (genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics) techniques. Moreover, emergence of models such as U-Net and LiverNet 2.x, classification models like DeepLiverNet and BiLSTM models, as well as transformer frameworks and the identification of biomarkers models are also described. This study also investigates challenges such as data heterogeneity, data interpretability, fairness and real-world clinical application. Finally, important areas of research opportunities and future directions are highlighted to present a developing clinically applicable, explainable and ethical AI solutions to manage MASLD.

MASLD

Exploration of predictive and prognostic alternative splicing signatures in lung adenocarcinoma using machine learning methods.

BACKGROUND: Alternative splicing (AS) plays critical roles in generating protein diversity and complexity. Dysregulation of AS underlies the initiation and progression of tumors. Machine learning approaches have emerged as efficient tools to identify promising biomarkers. It is meaningful to explore pivotal AS events (ASEs) to deepen understanding and improve prognostic assessments of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) via machine learning algorithms. METHOD: RNA sequencing data and AS data were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and TCGA SpliceSeq database. Using several machine learning methods, we identified 24 pairs of LUAD-related ASEs implicated in splicing switches and a random forest-based classifiers for identifying lymph node metastasis (LNM) consisting of 12 ASEs. Furthermore, we identified key prognosis-related ASEs and established a 16-ASE-based prognostic model to predict overall survival for LUAD patients using Cox regression model, random survival forest analysis, and forward selection model. Bioinformatics analyses were also applied to identify underlying mechanisms and associated upstream splicing factors (SFs). RESULTS: Each pair of ASEs was spliced from the same parent gene, and exhibited perfect inverse intrapair correlation (correlation coefficient&#x2009;=&#x2009;-&#x2009;1). The 12-ASE-based classifier showed robust ability to evaluate LNM status of LUAD patients with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) more than 0.7 in fivefold cross-validation. The prognostic model performed well at 1, 3, 5, and 10&#xa0;years in both the training cohort and internal test cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression indicated the prognostic model could be used as an independent prognostic factor for patients with LUAD. Further analysis revealed correlations between the prognostic model and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, T stage, N stage, and living status. The splicing network constructed of survival-related SFs and ASEs depicts regulatory relationships between them. CONCLUSION: In summary, our study provides insight into LUAD researches and managements based on these AS biomarkers.

Adenocarcinoma of Lung

Large-scale multiethnic electronic health record resource for diabetes complications research: the North West London Diabetes Cohort (NWLDC) - cohort profile.

PURPOSE: The North West London Diabetes Cohort is established to provide systematic characterisation of a large diabetes population as a foundation for complications research and prognostic modelling. Many predictive modelling studies neglect the essential descriptive characterisation of underlying cohorts, focusing narrowly on model accuracy. This cohort profile addresses this gap by comprehensively describing the demographic composition, clinical characteristics and complication incidence patterns. The notably diverse, multiethnic population enables examination of ethnic disparities and supports future development of reliable prognostic models and evidence-based prevention strategies for diabetes complications. PARTICIPANTS: At baseline, 337&#x2009;271&#x2009;patients with diabetes were identified. It includes 279&#x2009;067&#x2009;patients with type 2 diabetes, 17&#x2009;638 with type 1 diabetes, 33&#x2009;590 with gestational diabetes and 6916 with unspecified diabetes. The earliest diabetes diagnosis dates to January 1932, with data updated to 27 May 2025. FINDINGS TO DATE: This cohort profile describes baseline characteristics of patients with comprehensive data collected on demographics (age, sex, Deprivation Index, ethnicity), clinical measures (glycated haemoglobin, body mass index, blood pressure, lipids and estimated glomerular filtration rate) and 14 major diabetes complications tracked longitudinally. Key findings for patients with type 2 diabetes reveal diabetic retinopathy as the most common complication (74.6 per 1000 person-years), followed by hypertension (51.0) and kidney disease (31.4). Cumulative incidence analyses using the Aalen-Johansen estimator, which accounts for mortality as a competing risk, demonstrated significant ethnic disparities, with black, Asian, mixed and other ethnic groups showing elevated risk compared with white patients. Time-varying Cox models identified strong clustering between cardiovascular and renal complications, confirming a cardiometabolic-renal syndrome. Mental health conditions (depression and anxiety) were prevalent throughout the disease timeline, occurring both before and after diabetes diagnosis. FUTURE PLANS: This cohort will be used as a platform for developing and validating prognostic models for diabetes complications, enabling risk stratification and targeted interventions. Future work will incorporate medication data to refine diabetes type classification, examine the effectiveness of antidiabetic medications in preventing different complications and address demographic differences in prognostic model performance and prediction accuracy. To better characterise lifestyle, further interrogation of electronic health record data will examine recording of advice given, including dietary advice, referral to weight management schemes and presence of alcohol consumption codes.

Humans

Lymphangiogenesis-related gene signature-based risk model for prognostic assessment of cervical cancer: immune-metabolic characterization and molecular subtype analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lymphangiogenesis promotes tumor dissemination and may shape the immune contexture of cervical cancer, yet lymphangiogenesis-related prognostic stratification and its immunometabolic implications remain insufficiently defined in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC). METHODS: TCGA-CESC transcriptomes and clinical data were obtained from UCSC Xena and integrated with normal cervix tissues from the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project after batch correction. Prognostic LYMRGs were first identified from the differentially expressed set using univariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. Candidate genes were then reduced using an L1-regularized Cox model (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator), and the remaining markers were entered into a multivariable Cox regression to obtain the final coefficients and compute an individualized risk score. The model's prognostic value was further assessed in an independent Gene Expression Omnibus dataset. In addition, expression patterns of the signature genes were leveraged for molecular subtyping of TCGA samples via non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). Immune infiltration and immunotherapy-associated characteristics were interrogated through a multi-algorithm strategy (single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE), and Immunophenoscore . Additional analyses included pathway enrichment (GSEA/GO/KEGG), drug sensitivity prediction (pRRophetic/CellMiner), and ceRNA network analysis. RESULTS: A six-gene LYMRG signature robustly stratified survival. High-risk patients had significantly worse overall survival in The Cancer Genome Atlas with AUCs of 0.819/0.801/0.801&#xa0;at 1/3/5 years, and in GSE52903 (P = 0.001) with AUCs of 0.733/0.719/0.725. NMF identified two subtypes with distinct prognosis (P = 0.01) and divergent immune landscapes. Risk groups and subtypes exhibited consistent differences in immune infiltration, checkpoint expression, TIDE/IPS patterns, and pathway enrichment. Predicted chemosensitivity differed by risk group, and the ceRNA network suggested candidate upstream lncRNA regulators of the signature. CONCLUSION: A lymphangiogenesis-related six-gene model enables clinically meaningful prognostic stratification of CESC and links lymphangiogenesis programs to distinct tumor immune phenotypes and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

cancer

A cuproptosis-related lncRNAs-based risk signature for predicting prognosis and immune status in glioma.

BACKGROUND: Glioma is one of the most prevalent primary malignant brain tumors, characterized by poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Recent studies have identified cuproptosis, a novel copper-dependent form of regulated cell death, as a critical mechanism involved in tumor progression. However, the role of cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in glioma remains not fully clarified. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model based on cuproptosis-associated lncRNAs to predict patient outcomes and guide individualizing therapeutic strategies. METHODS: Transcriptomic profiles and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases. Cuproptosis -related prognostic lncRNAs were filtered via univariate and multivariate Cox and Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses, which were selected to establish a prognostic model for glioma. Samples were divided into high- and low-risk groups, and the predictive performance of the prognostic model was evaluated based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves, and a nomogram. In addition, immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), immunophenoscore (IPS), Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) and drug sensitivity were analyzed. Expression levels of selected lncRNAs and proteins were validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. RESULTS: An 11-lncRNA signature associated with cuproptosis was established, and the risk score derived from this model was identified as an independent prognostic factor for glioma. The model exhibited excellent predictive ability, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.880, 0.913, and 0.866 for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival, respectively. Higher TMB, immune checkpoint expression, and IPS were observed in the high-risk group and no significant difference was observed in TIDE between risk groups. Drug sensitivity analysis identified TPCA-1, KIN001-135, and ispinesib mesylate as potential therapeutic agents. Expression validation in glioma cells further supported the biological relevance of the selected lncRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: This cuproptosis-related lncRNA-based signature demonstrates strong prognostic value and may serve as a promising tool for glioma risk stratification and personalized treatment selection.

Glioma

Crucial role of telomere maintenance-related genes in survival prediction and subtype identification in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Telomere maintenance-related genes (TMRGs) are implicated in Colorectal cancer (CRC) development, but their prognostic value and clinical relevance remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to develop a TMRG-based prognostic model and elucidate its clinical utility in CRC management. METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas database was utilized to download RNA-seq data from 638 CRC and 51 control samples. Differential expressed genes were screened and intersected with 2086 TMRGs, resulting in the identification of 976 TMRGs. Through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, a prognostic model comprising three telomere maintenance-related biomarkers (PDE1B, TFAP2B, and HSPA1A) was developed and validated using an external dataset. By integrating the model risk score with clinical features, a nomogram was constructed to predict the survival outcomes of CRC patients. Additionally, an in-depth investigation of the immuno-infiltration, functional variation and drug sensitivity analysis were performed in two risk subgroups defined by the prognostic model. Finally, the functional significance of PDE1B in CRC cell lines was investigated through MTT assays, cell colony formation assays, transwell assays and flow cytometry. RESULTS: A total of 976 DE-TMRGs were enriched in telomere/DNA replication pathways. A three-gene signature (PDE1B, TFAP2B, and HSPA1A) stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with divergent survival (AUC >0.60, validated externally). High-risk patients had advanced N/M stages, elevated M0/M2 macrophages, reduced CD4+ memory T cells, and upregulated immune checkpoints. Nomogram integrating risk score, age, and N/M stage accurately predicted 1-/3-/5-year survival. Low-risk patients showed greater 5-fluorouracil sensitivity. PDE1B expression was significantly reduced in CRC tissues and correlated with advanced stages. Functional assays confirmed PDE1B overexpression suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis in CRC cells. CONCLUSION: This study identifies a moderately predictive telomere maintenance-related gene signature as an independent prognostic predictor in CRC. The risk stratification model effectively discriminates patients with distinct survival patterns, tumor microenvironments, and therapeutic responses, while the integrated nomogram offers additional reference information for survival analysis, albeit with only moderate predictive accuracy. These findings indicate telomere maintenance-related gene signature could serve as a preliminary auxiliary risk stratification tool for postoperative CRC patients, PDE1B may also serve as a potential epithelial tumor-suppressor target for future preclinical studies.

PDE1B

Integrated single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analysis identifies a novel senescent fibroblast subtype associated with poor prognosis in acral melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Acral melanoma (AM) exhibits significant intratumoral heterogeneity, but its tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune regulation remain unclear. This study aims to dissect TME heterogeneity and establish a prognostic model based on key cell subpopulations. METHODS: We collected AM single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Unsupervised clustering, CellChat, and Scissor analysis were performed to characterize cellular heterogeneity, cell-cell communication, and prognosis-related cell subpopulations. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the prognostic value of key genes, which were further validated by multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC). RESULTS: In AM, Mel_C2, C7, and C9 with high SEMA6A and KIT expression were strongly linked to poor prognosis. We further identified a senescent fibroblast subpopulation (sCAF_CDKN2A) characterized by high fibroblast senescence signature (FSS) scores. Integrating Scissor analysis of fibroblast subtypes with bulk prognostic data, we identified COL3A1, VCAN, and KIT as prognosis-associated genes upregulated in poor-outcome-related fibroblast subsets. Cell-cell communication analysis revealed that sCAF_CDKN2A engages in an immunosuppressive network, interacting with regulatory T cells (Tregs) via MIF signaling and receiving signals from exhausted CD8+ T cells through PPIA-BSG interactions. Using transcription factor expression patterns from these fibroblast subtypes, we constructed a prognostic model that effectively stratified patients into distinct risk groups with significant differences in overall survival (OS). mIHC confirmed significantly higher protein levels of SEMA6A and COL3A1 in tumor tissues compared to matched normal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: We established a novel prognostic model for AM and identified sCAF_CDKN2A as an immunosuppressive senescent fibroblast subpopulation driving poor prognosis.

Acral melanoma

Mitochondria related gene signature serves as prognosis prediction and risk stratification of cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) is a highly aggressive biliary malignancy with poor clinical outcomes and limited effective prognostic biomarkers. Mitochondrial dysfunction participates in multiple oncological processes of CHOL, yet the prognostic roles of mitochondria&#x2011;related genes (MRGs) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize MRGs expression in CHOL and develop a molecular prognostic model for predicting patient survival and guiding clinical management. METHODS: RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and clinical data of CHOL were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (GSE89748) databases. Differentially expressed MRGs were identified, and 10 machine learning algorithms were used to construct prognostic models. The optimal model (highest average C-index) was selected to establish a mitochondria-related risk score (MRRS), which was validated internally and externally. A nomogram integrating clinical factors and MRRS was developed, and biological mechanisms were explored via functional and immune analyses. RESULTS: A 3-MRG (MAP3K1, MRPL18, PYGB) prognostic signature was constructed, stratifying patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different overall survival. The model showed high predictive accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) up to 0.845, and MRRS was an independent prognostic factor. The signature was associated with mitochondrial pathways, and the high-risk group had distinct immune infiltration and mutation profiles. CONCLUSIONS: A validated MRG prognostic model effectively stratifies CHOL patients and has potential clinical value for prognosis prediction. Further validation in larger cohorts is needed to confirm its applicability.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL)

Oxidative Stress Associated LncRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Prognosis and Immune Responses in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) significantly influences lung squamous cell carcinoma's (LUSC) prognostic value and immune infiltration. This study aimed to demonstrate how oxidative stress-related lncRNAs impact lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset gathered transcriptome information and related clinical data for LUSC. To build a prognostic model, 10 prognostic-related genes were identified using a series of bioinformatics analyses that compared the OS gene's aberrant expression in tumor and healthy tissues, as well as its association with malignancy. Subjects were stratified into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score derived from the 10-gene signature. While the mathematical risk model demonstrated limited independent predictive performance in the validation cohort (AUC ~ 0.5), functional and immunological evaluations revealed significant differences in the tumor microenvironment (TME) across risk strata. Specifically, high-risk patients exhibited distinct immune infiltration profiles and altered immunological scores relative to their low-risk counterparts. Therefore, rather than serving as a direct clinical prediction tool, this oxidative stress-related lncRNA signature provides valuable biological insights into the immune landscape of LUSC and highlights potential therapeutic targets for further mechanistic investigation.

Humans

Alternative splicing in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the second leading cause of gynecologic cancer death worldwide, with only 20% of cases detected early due to its elusive nature, limiting successful treatment. Most deaths occur from the disease progressing to advanced stages. Despite advances in chemo- and immunotherapy, the 5-year survival remains below 50% due to high recurrence and chemoresistance. Therefore, leveraging new research perspectives to understand molecular signatures and identify novel therapeutic targets is crucial for improving the clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer. Alternative splicing, a fundamental mechanism of post-transcriptional gene regulation, significantly contributes to heightened genomic complexity and protein diversity. Increased awareness has emerged about the multifaceted roles of alternative splicing in ovarian cancer, including cell proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. We begin with an overview of altered splicing machinery, highlighting increased expression of spliceosome components and associated splicing factors like BUD31, SF3B4, and CTNNBL1, and their relationships to ovarian cancer. Next, we summarize the impact of specific variants of CD44, ECM1, and KAI1 on tumorigenesis and drug resistance through diverse mechanisms. Recent genomic and bioinformatics advances have enhanced our understanding. By incorporating data from The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq, along with clinical information, a series of prognostic models have been developed, which provided deeper insights into how the splicing influences prognosis, overall survival, the immune microenvironment, and drug sensitivity and resistance in ovarian cancer patients. Notably, novel splicing events, such as PIGV|1299|AP and FLT3LG|50,941|AP, have been identified in multiple prognostic models and are associated with poorer and improved prognosis, respectively. These novel splicing variants warrant further functional characterization to unlock the underlying molecular mechanisms. Additionally, experimental evidence has underscored the potential therapeutic utility of targeting alternative splicing events, exemplified by the observation that knockdown of splicing factor BUD31 or antisense oligonucleotide-induced BCL2L12 exon skipping promotes apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. In clinical settings, bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the VEGF-A isoform, has demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. In conclusion, this review constitutes the first comprehensive and detailed exposition of the intricate interplay between alternative splicing and ovarian cancer, underscoring the significance of alternative splicing events as pivotal determinants in cancer biology and as promising avenues for future diagnostic and therapeutic intervention.

Humans

Comprehensive investigation identifies CPSF3 as a novel prognostic and oncogenic biomarker in bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC) remains a prevalent malignancy worldwide, with rising incidence rates each year. Despite progress in therapeutic strategies, many patients suffer recurrence or progression, emphasizing the urgent need for novel prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This research evaluated the prognostic relevance and functional role of Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor 3 (CPSF3) in BC. METHODS: We analyzed CPSF3 expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and immunohistochemistry on a cohort of 203 BC patients. A nomogram incorporating CPSF3 expression was developed based on CPSF3 expression for prediction of overall survival and disease-free survival. Immune infiltration analyses and transcriptome sequencing were performed to explore underlying biological mechanisms. In vitro and in vivo experiments were utilized to examine the results of CPSF3 silencing on bladder cancer cell growth, colony-forming ability and cell cycle transitions. RESULTS: Elevated CPSF3 expression was significantly linked to unfavorable overall survival and disease-free survival both in TCGA datasets and our cohort. The CPSF3-based nomogram outperformed conventional prognostic models. CPSF3 expression was associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint markers. Enrichment analysis revealed CPSF3 enrichment in cell cycle-related pathways. Suppression of CPSF3 expression led to marked reductions in cell proliferation, colony formation, tumor growth in animal models and inhibited G1 to S phase progression. CONCLUSION: CPSF3 is a promising prognostic biomarker for BC and may play a crucial role in BC progression. Incorporating CPSF3 into clinical prognostic models may enhance prediction of patient outcomes. CPSF3 may represent a promising therapeutic target for BC management.

Bladder cancer

Integration of single-cell transcriptomics and genomic mutation analysis identifies an immunotherapy-resistant tumor subcluster and validates ARNTL2 as a malignant driver in lung adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains a critical clinical challenge, and the mechanisms underlying resistance-associated intratumoral heterogeneity are poorly characterized. METHODS: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of LUAD patients receiving neoadjuvant immunotherapy (responders vs. non-responders), integrating inferCNV, GSVA, and differential expression analyses. Cluster-specific genes were validated across seven independent cohorts (TCGA-LUAD, GSE13213, GSE26939, GSE29016, GSE30219, GSE31210, GSE42127). A multi-algorithm machine learning framework was used to construct a prognostic model, and the immune microenvironment was characterized using TCIA scoring, seven infiltration algorithms, and ESTIMATE. ARNTL2 function was assessed by CCK-8 and Transwell assays in A549 and H1299 cells. RESULTS: Non-responders showed significant enrichment of epithelial cells, depletion of cytotoxic T/NK cells, and elevated copy number variation burden versus responders (p < 0.0001). A resistance-enriched malignant subcluster (Cluster 2) exhibited hyperproliferative and metabolic reprogramming signatures with upregulated KRT17, S100A2, and CST6, which showed tumor-specific overexpression, adverse prognostic value, and genomic amplification across cohorts. CoxBoost combined with survivalSVM achieved optimal predictive performance (C-index = 0.686), yielding robust risk stratification (HR: 2.54-10.51, all p < 0.05). Low-risk patients showed greater immune infiltration and higher TCIA immunophenoscores. ARNTL2 was an independent prognostic factor (HR: 2.07-4.64) strongly correlated with risk score (r = 0.69), and its knockdown suppressed proliferation and invasion in both LUAD cell lines (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study identifies a resistance-associated malignant subcluster in LUAD, constructs a validated CoxBoost + survivalSVM prognostic model with robust immune stratification, and establishes ARNTL2 as a core oncogenic driver and therapeutic target.

ARNTL2

Integrative analysis of single-cell sequencing identifies CD8+ TIM3+ CD101+ T cell-associated genes as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a prevalent and deadly malignancy that significantly impacts women's quality of life and imposes financial burdens. Despite therapeutic advancements, tumour heterogeneity and frequent relapses remain major challenges. Accordingly, this study aimed to characterize immune features associated with CD8+ TIM3+ CD101+ T cells and develop a prognostic signature for breast cancer. METHODS: This study integrated single-cell and bulk transcriptomic datasets to characterize CD8+ TIM3+ CD101+ T cell (CCT)-related immune features and construct a prognostic signature in breast cancer. Single-cell RNA-seq data were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository, and bulk transcriptomic data were from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO databases. Analytical methods included pseudo-time trajectory reconstruction (Monocle2), intercellular signalling analysis (CellChat), functional enrichment (ClusterProfiler), and immune profiling (ssGSEA). Prognostic modeling was conducted using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression, with validation via Kaplan-Meier and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. RESULTS: Single-cell analysis identified 17 clusters spanning seven cell types, including T cells, myeloid cells, and epithelial cells. T-cell sub-clustering revealed four subtypes. Pseudotime analysis suggested a potential state-transition relationship between CD8+ CD101- TIM3+ and CD8+ CD101+ TIM3+ T-cell states. A total of 121 differentially expressed genes were enriched in vital biological processes. An 11-gene prognostic model showed strong predictive power across cohorts. Single-cell T-cell reclustering identified a CD8+ CD101+ TIM3+ T-cell subpopulation, which was primarily characterized by the expression of markers such as CD101 and HAVCR2/TIM3. CONCLUSIONS: This study maps cellular heterogeneity and molecular networks in breast cancer, offering insights for targeted therapy and improved prognosis.

Breast invasive carcinoma

A per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances-based gene signature links prognosis to immune landscapes in thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer (THCA) is the most common endocrine malignancy with a rising global incidence and significant heterogeneity. Although per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure is linked to thyroid dysfunction, the prognostic value of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances-related genes (PFASRGs) and their role in the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) remain poorly understood. This study aims to systematically screen key PFASRGs and evaluate their prognostic value as biomarkers for THCA. METHODS: Utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-THCA transcriptomic data and PFASRGs, we constructed a prognostic model through differential expression analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). The model's robustness was validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and clinical nomograms. Furthermore, the TME, immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivities were systematically evaluated. Distinct molecular landscapes were characterized by stratifying the cohort via unsupervised consensus clustering analysis. RESULTS: The eight-gene prognostic model demonstrated robust performance, with area under the curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.85 across all validation cohorts. High-risk patients exhibited significantly shorter overall survival and an "inflamed" TME characterized by high immune scores and checkpoint expression. In contrast, the therapeutic efficacy of anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) agents was more pronounced in the low-risk category, as evidenced by a superior objective response. Furthermore, distinct molecular subtypes and risk-specific sensitivities to targeted agents, such as sorafenib and sunitinib, were identified, highlighting the model's clinical utility for personalized treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We established a novel THCA prognostic framework based on eight PFASRGs. This model exhibits superior performance in risk stratification, effectively distinguishing cohorts with divergent clinical trajectories, unique immune microenvironment features, and varied therapeutic responses. Our findings provide a powerful predictive tool for refining prognostic evaluation and facilitating the implementation of personalized management strategies for THCA patients.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances-related genes